Scavenger

By Sandra Maggs

A teenage world where boredom overcomes fear provides the background for a crime. When The Crows, a small gang from the village of Oxmarsh, become involved in a murder investigation, loyalty is forgotten. Finger pointing and accusations fly as all roads lead back to the leader of the gang, Raven Aubry. But is she being framed or is the fifteen year old capable of killing without remorse?
Subtle clues lead in a direction that only the sharpest detective will identify and as DS Herman Deverick attempts to solve the final crime of his career, the leads he follows take an irregular twist. Can he get to the bottom of it or is this one murder that just can't be solved?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandra Maggs
• Release date: Dec 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463030165

Sandra Maggs

I was born in a library and raised on literature. From a young age I wrote my own stories and read them to anyone who would listen. After years of hard work and determination, I'm finally dabbling in the world of Indie Publishing and I love it! My favourite genre is fantasy, but I'll give anything a shot.

Book preview

scAVENgeR

Copywrite 2018 Sandra Maggs

Published by Sandra Maggs at Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favourite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Contents

Prologue

Part One

Three Weeks Earlier

Aaron Hawk

The Psychologist

Molly Blackburn

Raven Aubry

The Factory Warehouse

Raven’s Return to School

Part Two

Herman Devereaux

Sean Leighton

The Alibi

The Clues

The Theory

The Questioning

The Set Up

The Home Visits

The Realisation

Raven’s Investigation

The Disappearance of Molly

The Discovery

The Confession

Epilogue

RAVENous

About the Author

Other Books by Sandra Maggs

Prologue

Through a frayed hole in the heavy tarpaulin, she could see the forest. Hazy from the rising mist, the view was strange, it was almost like looking at something through the bottom of a glass. Bright green fuzzy moss covered the long spindly fingers of the majestic monarchs which guarded the leafy valley. Unspoilt and forgotten, it was a paradise for those who accidently stumbled across it.

Sounds of a bird’s cry infiltrated the cover, muffled by the thick damp fabric that secluded her. The raven, dark and mysterious, it cried out, and another replied. She wondered how many there were and if they would pick the rotting flesh from her bones when she finally departed for good. Perhaps they would start before she drew her last breath. She wondered what it would feel like to be pecked at while she was still alive, to feel the strips of delicate muscle being pulled from her frame.

Moisture from the damp ground, seeped into her clothing. She questioned how long she had been there. Wriggling, she tried to free her arms. Ropes scratched her wrists that were tied tightly behind her back. Thirsty, she licked her dry lips and craved the dewy beads that dripped from the leaves. Drop after drop she could just see them as they taunted her, and she prayed for someone to come along and rescue her but knew there was no use.

A numbness had developed in one of her feet and the pain in her leg told her there was some damage. She hadn’t fallen, but the events leading to her situation had faded slightly. Now she lay dying. Minute by minute ticked by and her heartbeat kept the time. With each beat, she willed it to stop. She wanted an end to her misery as much as she needed the water. Both would satisfy a craving.

It wouldn’t be long now, a few hours or perhaps just minutes. But she didn’t know. If only she could recall how she got there. The back of her head hurt and the pain blocked a memory from coming to the surface, but what? Somebody had hit her with something from behind. But that’s the only thing she was sure of. Her mind was as misty as the view through the rip.

She guessed it was around midmorning from the display of filtered spotty light that patterned the uneven ground. A noise reached her. Was it the voice of a man? She tried to call out, but darkness overtook her and consciousness left her, accompanied by the fading caw of the raven.

Part One

Three weeks earlier

The four teenagers made up The Crows, a small gang who ran the Oxmarsh streets. Scavengers, they took everything they could. It had started out of boredom, just a tiny spark growing into an inferno which had become their way. Now unchallenged, their way had flourished.

Desolate, Soap Street was lined with abandoned factories and warehouses that remained derelict and filthy. Broken windows and slogans spray painted on the rough brick exterior portrayed the gloom of the strip. Dried up like a desert, nothing grew on the street, and the wealth which had once bulged like an overstuffed Christmas stocking, had turned to dust with the global financial crisis. Business had gone belly up and the strip was now a breeding ground for grunge and crime. Recovery was out of reach.

Along the rear of the old factories the untamed overgrowth covered a path which had once serviced the heavy foot traffic to the thriving industry. Narrow, there was just enough room between the buildings and the woods to squeeze through. Nobody cared, and the area had gone to ruin. The council didn’t have the money to invest and if they did, it would take months to clean the place up, which made it perfect for Raven Aubry. As she picked her way along the path, the prickly branches from the blackberry bushes grabbed at her clothing as if to stop her. Followed by a not so willing friend, she snapped the thorny twigs and stomped them into the long grass to make the going easier for her accomplice.

This way, the basement window is smashed and I can probably get it open. Scratching her arm on the shards of glass that were still intact, Raven released the catch to free the broken window and pushed it hard at the top. Instantly, flakes of paint fell from the aging forgotten frame as it swung open. Come on, she said. There’s enough room for us to squeeze in. Wriggling through the opening, she jumped softly to the floor and looked around the deserted room. This must have been some sort of canteen or lunch room. Long tables had been pushed up against the walls and the chairs which had once surrounded them, supporting the workers during meal times, were stacked in the corner. Everything was covered in dust and cobwebs. Raven couldn’t remember what the factory had been used for, possibly some sort of canned goods, but she wasn’t sure and she didn’t care.

What’s in there? Molly asked, as she tried to take a better look. Having her doubts about the escapade, she thought about ditching her friend and going straight to school. Raven had these crazy ideas all the time and she didn’t fancy being charged with breaking and entering. It was bad enough the company she kept was nothing short of a felon.

Come in and see, you big chicken, Raven called to her as she picked the cobwebs from her long dark hair. There’s nothing scary in here, just a few hundred spiders.

Climbing carefully through the window, Molly Blackburn jumped down from the bench. I hate spiders, they give me the creeps. They run about with their long black hairy legs and don’t give a toss whether or not you’re scared of them. It’s a good job I like you. Following Raven, she walked cautiously along the corridor, the row of doors to the abandoned rooms were all closed and after flipping on a light switch she watched, surprised as the lights flickered to life accompanied by a faint hum. The stench of something that must have died in one of the walls reached her and she wrinkled her nose. What the hell is that smell? It’s sort of like a mixture of cigar smoke and shit.

I don’t know. Stop trying to hold onto me, Raven said angrily shaking her off. You’re such a baby.

Sorry, but it’s sort of scary in here. What if it’s haunted or something?

Yeah, by the ghosts of former workers, Raven scoffed. Now you’re just being ridiculous.

Opening up, the hallway gave way to a large space littered with debris from the past. Scattered papers and leftovers from a once thriving operation disgraced the dirty concrete floor. It stunk of piss and Molly tried to breathe through her mouth to avoid the stench. I’m gonna be sick, she muttered. Empty aluminium cans and used takeaway containers had been left by squatters who had been passing through Oxmarsh. An overall feeling of dislike for the tired old building began and grew as she took it all in.

Through a row of small grimy windows, they could barely make out the abandoned street. If they couldn’t see out, it meant people couldn’t see in.

This building could be a great place to hang out, Raven pointed out, looking around slowly picturing the rent free fun they could have. Nobody ever comes here. We should tell the boys.

Look at my uniform! It's a mess. Ignoring her, Molly stared down at her clothing. Covering the blue tartan skirt were tiny flakes of white paint from the window frame. I hate this stupid building.

Don’t be ridiculous, it’s going to be great.

This is a horrible stinky old factory and nobody would want it as a hangout. You’ve lost your mind if you think I’m coming back here again.

"But look at